Estonia

The Tallinn Bus Station  is the main long-distance bus station of Tallinn, Estonia. The bus station is located in the southeastern part of the city centre (Kesklinn District), in Juhkentali neighborhood.  When I was a young exchange student in Finland, I used this bus station frequently to travel back to my native Riga (Helsinki - Tallinn by ferry). Last time I was here, probably was back in 2006. We arrived here from Riga bus station using Lux Express bus to celebrate my 30th birthday in…

There have been some positive improvements for raising the minimum wage in all three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) in recent years. And there are more to come. In 2016 minimum wage is set to rise in all Baltic states. Estonia will have a minimum wage of EUR 430; Latvia - EUR 370 and Lithuania - EUR 350. Update: Minimum Wage Set to Rise in the Baltic States in 2018 Here are my previous articles about minimum wage in Baltic states: Minimum wage in the Baltic States 2013 and…

At the start of this August I traveled to Estonian capital city Tallinn from Riga (Latvia) to celebrate my birthday and I had a few options to choose on how to actually get there - like, car, coach (bus) or plane (I believe there is a rail connection as well, but I also believe it takes some 12 hours to travel a short ~ 300 km distance) The fact is as I believe it will be even cheaper or about the same to fly between those two Baltic Capital cities, rather to use a bus. But since I'm sick and…

I first heard of idea to build an undersea tunnel connecting Finish capital Helsinki with Estonian Tallinn, back in 2006. Soon it will be already 10 years, and I would probably have forget the idea of this project, but, today I red an article suggesting that estimate costs of such project could be EUR 13 billion, and it could be completed toward the end of 2030s. The submarine tunnel, connecting Tallinn with Finnish capital Helsinki, could cost 9-13 billion euros, according to a preliminary…

The Baltic States, which include Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, have been recognized as one of the fastest-growing regions in the European Union. The region has experienced significant economic development, attracting foreign investment, and becoming a hub for technology, finance, and other sectors. One crucial aspect of this growth is the regulation of minimum wages. In 2015, the minimum wages in the Baltic States were as follows: Estonia - The minimum wage in Estonia was €390 per month…

A while ago I already compared Baltic nations with Caucasian nation by GDP (that time I was comparing data for 2012). Since it's second half of 2014 already, I decided to compare how 6 independent states looks alike in 2013 (Most recent data we can get from World Bank) Some might argue - why I'm comparing those regions? Well - why not?  Baltic states and South Caucasus GDP 2013/2012 Country 2012 ($bln) 2013 ($bln) Growth ($bln) Azerbaijan 68.73 73.56  4.83 Lithuania…

<p>Last year I red an excellent article pointing out that <a title="Estonia Income level" href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/estonia-catch-scandinavia-next-10-15-years…; target="_blank">income level in Estonia could reach level its in Scandinavia in next 10-15 years</a>. Although this article made me smile, I decided to compare - <strong>is it real for Estonia to reach level like that</strong>?&nbsp;</p><p>Since its almost a…

In the wake of the recent power outage in Tbilisi, I decided to delve into electric power consumption in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) space. In this article, I explore the kWh per capita consumption in various FSU countries, based on data from the World Bank. Surprisingly, Russia, with a minimum wage of $160 per month, has the highest kWh per capita consumption, followed by Estonia, which has a higher standard of living. This article serves as a starting point to better understand the economy…

It has been six months since I last analyzed the minimum wages in the former Soviet Union. Although it is not a major factor in economic growth, the minimum wage is still a relevant indicator in understanding a country's economic status. In my previous research in 2013, I found that Estonia had the highest minimum wage of $427, while Kyrgyzstan had the lowest at just $17 per month. In this updated analysis for 2014, the highest minimum wage is still in Estonia, with an increase to $480, and…

I had the pleasure of watching a captivating documentary by Deutsche Welle about Estonia, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Baltic states. The film takes us on a journey through Estonia, exploring its diverse landscape and meeting the people who call it home. From the former fisherwoman who has turned her passion into a thriving business to the power station employee who remains wary of the integration of the Russian population, this film offers a fascinating glimpse into…